[Anonymous]

#1021131

I am home from the hospital. Everything went very well. The worst part of all was the packing in my nose and that was removed before I came home this am. I feel like it is a miracle because I can see better than I have for almost two years. God was with me and blessed me and I did not end up with double vision so far. There is that possibility, but so far, so good. I can see better now with the operated eye and the “good” eye is probably going to need attention next. The doctor said I will probably continue to improve over the nest week. Even if I didn’t, I am so thrilled to see what I can see now. God Is good!! Thank you for all your support. It is very much appreciated.
God Bless
hoover

[Anonymous]

#1079419

Can anybody who has had decompression surgery let me know what to expect. Did you have problems with double vision after the surgery? I’m going to have it done in Sept., after trying radiation, which didn’t seem to work.

Sharon

[Anonymous]

#1079420

I just went through decomp. and the eyelid surgery. Don’t try to be tough after the surgery tell them if it hurts.. and it will.. they will give you stronger pain killers. Use bags of peas to ice your eyes.. they don’t hurt as bad as ice packs.. Take it easy and listen to the Doctors… I didn’t (picked up my boys) and busted the blood vessels behind my eye.. they really do know best.. Don’t rush back to work.. I only took three days off, stupid stupid stupid..
Last, It takes a long time for the swelling to go down. I had suffered from TED for so long that my eye lids had actually stretched so when I woke up from surgery they had stiched part of my eye closed… I hated the way I looked. I wouldn’t even see my boyfriend for two months after the first surgery.. I had my first surgery the 15th of May and the second on the 22nd..
I had the eyelid surgery the 10th of this month and I couldn’t be happier.. I look great. It really does take a while for the swelling to go down.

How many walls are they taking out? I had three removed.. so if it is less it might take less recovery time.

Errin

[Anonymous]

#1079421

Why did you need 2 surgeries? And did you have any experience with double vision? I think they’re doing 2 walls. The doctor gave me the option of 1 eye or 2, but he recommends doing both eyes.

Sharon

[Anonymous]

#1079422

I had 3 wall decomp. surgery in June. I had one eye done, my other eye is normal. I still have double vision most of the time, but I had it before the surgery. Even though I see double I was still able to paint a backdrop for a local play, The Wizard of Oz…this was a BIG breakthrough for me for I thought TED had stollen away my ability as an artist. But driving is another story, I either wear an eyepatch or have someone else drive me. I will see how well my vision improves by Oct.Then my doctor will decide if I need strabismus surgery again. I had it done once before and it worked well for awhile. Gerri

[Anonymous]

#1079423

Hi,

I am due for the eye-lid surgery on Tuesday, and I am SO scared.
What can I expect, how long is the op usually – and how long to recover?

Thanks!
Suzanne

[Anonymous]

#1079424

I’m having decompression surgery in 2 weeks. Can anyone let me know what to expect of the surgery and recuperation? I’m getting very nervous.

Sharon

[Anonymous]

#1079425

I had decompression surgery last October. There was very little pain, I only took a few tylenol. The bruising lasted about 10 days. Just remember to ice, ice ice! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

#1079426

Hello. I talked to my eye doctor yesterday about decompression surgery. I did not realize that they take the bone completely out. I always thought they would just shave the bone down to give the room that is needed. Now I am wondering, does the doctor do something to control how far the eye sets back? Has anyone had the problem of it setting back too far? Are both the medial and floor always taken out together?
I became too emotional yesterday and had a hard time asking the doctor anything. I am glad to have you all to ask.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

#1079427

Hi millie39,

Sorry, I haven’t gone through this, but I can give you some basic information. Decompression surgery is always performed by taking bone completely out ~ it’s the only way to get relief. I’ve heard of one-wall, two-wall, and three-wall procedures being done. The number of walls depends on how much more room your eye needs, I think, and which walls are removed depends on the specific muscles that are affected. After the decompression, the patient can have eye muscle surgery, followed by eyelid surgery, in order to normalize the look of the eye (if necessary). I haven’t read about anyone complaining that too much space was created. They’ve been doing this surgery for a long time, so presumably they’ve got those kinds of kinks worked out LONG since.

I hope that helps a little. Hopefully someone else (who has gone through it) will respond.

~Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1079428

Hi Millie-

I was just reading through the bulletin from the beginning and I saw alot of information on decompression surgery and thought of you, alot of the letters though are listed under the title Graves support group so if you did a search it might not come up. Thought this might help a little. Hope all is going well with you.

[Anonymous]

#1079429

I had decompressions in each eye. A three wall decompression in both. What they do is to leave a thin section of eye socket to keep the eye in the proper place while removing the rest of the bone to allow the eye muscles and fatty tissue to expend into the sinus area.

The difference was amazing. You will be so happy after it is done to see your eyes back in their normal positions after the swelling of the surgery goes down.

Did they tell you that the eye may settle off center? My left eye settled back looking ahead. The right eye settled looking at my nose so I was cross eyed. A simple stribsmus (eye muscle surger) moved my eye back into normal position. It hwa been almost 10 years since mine and I hardly ever thing about it anymore.

I am glad to have my old look back. Now if only they took care of the wrinkles around my eyes at the same time…

Jake George
On-line Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1079430

Thank you for you replies. The issue I am having is that as of right now, my eyes are working just fine. I already had my eyelids lowered but it did not help. My eyes still look awful. My doctor is concerned that a decompression surgery may create a new set of problems. Is it possible to have decompression surgery and not have to adjust the eyelids after?
I am seeing the same doctor you saw Jake. I just wish I found him earlier.

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